Fashion’s Night Out

After much deliberating and not so meticulous planning I headed to Bond Street for one of my favourite nights of the year, Fashion’s Night Out.

I visited (deep breath) Browns, Whistles, Mulberry, Smythson, Miu Miu, Matthew Williamson, DVF, Nicole Farhi, Tory Birch, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, DKNY, Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo and Moschino. The stores had gone all out with free drinks, canapés, DJs and a total party atmosphere. It was like being at a festival- the shops were the stages and the clothes were the stars. Everyone was treated like a VIP and there was so much going on that I wished I could split myself in two.

Highlights included Drinking gin punch from a teacup at Moschino, seeing Nicole Farhi chatting to Bill Nighy outside Nicole Farhi, the canapés at Tory Birch (best of the evening), nearly getting in the way of the band’s grand entrance at Burberry and seeing Matthew Williamson in Matthew Williamson happily chatting and posing for photos with customers. It was great to see the designers out supporting the event made it feel really special.

However, this year I was disappointed to see that some of the stores- Coach, Stella McCartney, Juicy Couture and Dior to name a few were operating a guest list only policy with clipboards and velvet ropes. These brands can have exclusive ‘fashion people’ parties for the next month in New York, London, Milan and Paris. Fashions Night Out is supposed to be for everyone, for regular people who love fashion and don’t get invited to those parties all the time. There were so many great parties at all the other shops along Bond Street that it didn’t matter to me, in fact, they made it easier for me to plan my route! It’s the principal really, I don’t want to see my favourite night turn into another industry only party.

Cupcakes at Smythson

                           

Boots of my dreams at Miu Miu

Me admiring a Matthew Williamson Gown

The man himself

Gin in a teacup

The belt I have wanted since I saw it in The Face magazine aged 17

Dior taxi

Window at Alexander McQueen

Over before it started?

Tesco and Asda's Flying Jackets

Topshop's Flying Jacket

Burberry's Flying Jacket

Flying jackets are everywhere- from full page pictures in Stylist magazine to the front cover of Vogue’s October supplement. On every single trend report/ must have and high street store’s home page. When Topshop’s first flying jacket drop hit two weeks ago, they sold out in a matter of hours and were trading hands for double the price on EBay the same day. From the moment Burberry sent them down the catwalk in February the seemingly unanimous decision was taken that they were to be A/W 10’s MUST HAVE.

Unfortunately, the temperature has not dipped below 15 degrees and I am already bored, yes that’s right, bored of them. I have reached shearling lined aviator jacket saturation point, and its not even mid September. If I wanted one in February, I don’t now, and you know why? Florence and Fred at Tesco and George at Asda have theirs in store, the vintage stores have rails of the things, and every high street store worth mentioning has a version, and guess what? They are all the same, one for every budget, every women, no matter their income, all-walking round, looking the same. I feel for Burberry, I do- their key piece for A/W has been diluted, what should look new and exciting now looks tired, old and predictable.

The problem is, and I hate to say it, the democratisation of fashion. Before the days of live streamed shows, catwalk pics on Style.com, front row bloggers and endless real time tweets one had to wait until September to know what the trends were for Autumn- this year, by the time the magazines reported them, I knew them. And so did everyone else. Reaction had been monitored, focus groups taken and every buyer came to the same conclusion: Flying Jacket = Commercial Success.

I love that I have the opportunity to watch all the shows and see all the pictures from fashion week, I do- its just, where before I thought the British High Street maintained a safe distance from designer rip offs and trends, now I just see it as watered down, cheaper versions of the same thing, and it makes me sad.

P.S I am buying a grey or navy cape as this years winter coat. Hopefully with gold hardware.

Vogue's Fashion Night Out

Fashion's Night Out, organised by Vogue was touted as "A global celebration of fashion" with similar events happening in 12 other cities across the world.

Curious about this, and unsure of what would actually be happening I got off the tube at Oxford Circus after work to investigate. Topshop was the first stop, and apart from a board saying it was Fashion's Night Out and a small section of 'Vogue Edits' there was not much else to suggest the glamour and celebration promised. In fact, the highlight was spotting Noel Fielding browsing the leather trench coats.

Disappointed, I made my way to New Bond St, which at first sight looked sad and deserted and going into an abandoned Fenwicks did nothing for my mood.

Then, with a champagne reception at Bally and one of the Vogue staffers milling about and yet more champers and Vogue cupcakes at Follie Follie things were looking up. Anya Hindmarsh had cocktails and the opportunity to be photographed your favorite bag and the chance of winning it. Unfortunately, my photo was terrible so I stand no chance of a free bag.

Once I got down into Bond Street it was a whirlwind of fabulous drinks receptions and a real party atmosphere. Mulberry had amazing berry cocktails and prize draw (which I did not win), Jimmy Choo had Kanye West blaring out the speakers and scrummy Margaritas, Longchamp had a singer in the window, good old Vivienne Westwood served delicious canapes and gin and the Burberry party was the busiest, filled with the most stylish people and celebs with a queue for the early parts of the evening.

I had a truly fabulous time and thought that all the designer stores really made the effort to make it a great night. Bond Street retained its air of exclusivity, even though the event was open to all. It was a rare opportunity for fashion wannabes to glimpse the glitz close up, I truly hope there will be one next year as it is the perfect way to ring in the new fashion season in style.